Oregon Wildlife Artist Wins 2011 California Duck Stamp Contest

A painting of a male and female Barrow’s Goldeneye in a marine setting has been chosen by a panel of judges as the winning entry in the 2011 California Duck Stamp Contest. The painting by Shari Erickson of Beaver Creek, Ore., beat out 15 other entries to become the official design for the 2011-2012 stamp.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

“I absolutely love Barrow’s Goldeneye. They’re my favorite bird to paint, which is really what provoked me to enter this duck stamp contest,” Erickson said. A nature and wildlife artist since 1985, Erickson has been entering duck stamp contests since 2009. This is her first win.

Artists from around the country submitted entries for this year’s contest, sponsored by the California Department of Fish and Game. Robert Steiner of San Francisco took second place and Douglas Snyder of Chicago, Ill., took third. Honorable mentions were given to Tom Crain of Branson, Mo., and Clark Sullivan of Swartz Creek, Mich.

The judges noted that while all of the top entries were of extraordinary quality, the detailed and accurate marine habitat depicted in Erickson’s painting definitely gave it an “edge” over the competition.

All five paintings will be displayed at this year’s Pacific Flyway Decoy Association show in Sacramento, July 15-17.

Until implementation of the automated licensing system this year, waterfowl hunters were required to affix the annual state duck stamp to their licenses. The stamps will now be mailed, upon request, to license-holders at the end of the hunting season.

All proceeds generated by stamp sales are earmarked for waterfowl habitat conservation projects.